Table 4 Reasons for poor childbirth experience as reported by the women in Helsinki University Hospital during 2017–2018, analysed according to type of labor onset, parity, and fear of childbirth, N = 836

Pain

222

57.1

307

68.7

< 0.01

382

63.9

147

61.8

0.57

88

56.8

441

64.8

0.06

Long labour

91

23.4

118

26.4

0.32

175

29.3

34

14.3

< 0.01

37

23.9

172

25.3

0.72

Rapid labour

11

2.8

31

6.9

< 0.01

19

3.2

23

9.7

< 0.01

10

6.5

32

4.7

0.37

Operative vaginal delivery

19

4.9

33

7.4

0.14

31

5.2

9

5.2

0.39

8

5.2

32

4.7

0.81

Caesarean delivery

67

17.2

37

8.3

 < 0.01

81

13.5

23

9.7

0.13

18

11.6

86

12.6

0.73

Delivery complication

30

7.7

33

7.4

0.86

42

7.0

21

8.8

0.37

11

7.1

52

7.6

0.82

Neonatal adverse outcome

26

6.7

27

6.0

0.70

37

6.2

16

6.7

0.77

12

7.7

41

6.0

0.43

Separation from the baby

4

1

5

1.1

0.90

6

1

3

1.3

0.75

2

1.3

7

1

0.78

Fear for the baby’s or own wellbeing with no medical reason

15

3.9

24

5.9

0.30

34

5.7

5

2.1

0.03

10

6.5

29

4.3

0.24

Expectations not being met

33

8.5

34

7.6

0.64

46

7.7

21

8.8

0.59

12

7.7

55

8.1

0.89

Fatigue

9

2.3

9

2.0

0.77

16

2.7

2

0.8

0.10

3

1.9

15

2.2

0.84

Unpleasant facilities/environment during labour

3

0.8

4

0.9

1.00

6

1

1

0.4

0.68

2

1.3

5

0.7

0.49

Lack of support or unsupportive staff

60

15.4

48

10.7

0.04

76

12.7

32

13.4

0.78

35

22.6

73

10.7

< 0.01

Overall negative experience

29

7.5

21

4.7

0.09

34

5.7

16

6.7

0.57

5

3.2

45

6.6

0.11